EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 02: Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks with the media during a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center on July 02, 2024 in El Segundo, California. The Lakers selected Bronny James and Dalton Knecht in the 2024 NBA Draft. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Bronny James is set to earn some big-boy coins as one of the Los Angeles Lakers’ rookies. According to ESPN, LeBron James’ eldest has signed a contract worth $7.9 million with the team. Bronny will reportedly pocket the funds over the next four years, beginning this upcoming season.
As previously reported, the LA Lakers drafted Bronny on June 27. James Jr. will play as a guard on the team following his brief stint on the University of Southern California men’s basketball team.
ESPN reports that Bronny’s rookie deal will start at $1,157,143 for the 2024-2025 season and jump to $1,955,377 for the following season. His third-season pay from 2026-2027 will be bumped to $2,296,271. Finally, his fourth-season pay, per ESPN sources, will be the highest at $2,486,955.
Roomies, keep in mind that James Jr. is only 19. He secured this Laker contract after only one season of college basketball. Before hitting the college court, Bronny James spent five months on the bench after suffering a cardiac arrest during USC team workouts in July—less than a year ago.
In early April, James Jr. revealed his plans to enter the NBA draft. A few weeks later, The Athletic cited sources who claimed that the LA Lakers had indicated interest in signing him.
Last week, the Lakers followed through on said interest by drafting Bronny James in the second round as the 55th pick. Their selection marks the first time in league history that a father and son have played in the league and on the same team at the same time.
While “nepotism” made a swift entrance in talks about Bronny’s draft, LeBron and Savannah James have paid them dust. Instead, the NBA veteran has shared back-to-back Instagram posts celebrating his eldest. Meanwhile, mama Savannah has engaged in some of the online kiii about the family W!
In February 2022, LeBron told Sports Illustrated that his NBA retirement wouldn’t happen until he touched a pro court with Bronny James. The following year, he told ESPN he’d be fulfilled as long as they played “in the same uniform or a matchup,” and now that dream is this much closer to reality!
